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Summary

Circular earthwork depression, close to a group of barrows and of the correct dimensions to be a ploughed out pond barrow. Visible on aerial photographs but more clearly visible on the ground. However it is perhaps more likely to be an aircraft crash site or bomb crater.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Possible prehistoric pond barrow north east of Middlehills

Other References/Statuses

• Protection under the 1986 Military Remains Act

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) BARROW? (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC (Between))
• (Alternate Type) BOMB CRATER? (World War I to World War II - 1914 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• AIRCRAFT CRASH SITE? (World War I to World War II - 1914 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

A dark irregular cropmark is visible.

GetMapping, 1999 - 2000, Millennium Map 1999-2000 Getmapping (Aerial Photograph). SDV321648.

An earthwork depression is visible.

Knight, S., 2008, Site visit for Farm Environment Plan, 27/03/2008 (Personal Comment). SDV340344.

Circular depression, of the correct dimensions to be a plough-impacted pond barrow, perhaps associated with the other barrows in the area. However, the land manager says several bomb craters were known in the vicinity and this is perhaps more likely to be an impact or bomb crater. Visible as a dark cropmark on late 1940s RAF aerial photos, when the site appears to be in cultivation, and as an earthwork depression on aerial photographs taken in 1999-2000.

Threlkeld, S., 2013, Nature Reserves Warden comment, 09-JUL-2013 (Personal Comment). SDV351540.

The Nature Reserve warden for this site states that local legend records this feature as either a bomb crater or the result of a German plane crash. In the 1970s a metal detectorist apparently extracted some largish twisted bits of aluminium and other fragments, some with writing and decals on, perhaps supporting an interpretation of this as the site of a plane crash.

Knight, S., 2013-2015, Land Management Case Work, 09-JUL-2013 (Personal Comment). SDV351543.

It is possible that the shape and depth of the earthwork was altered during investigation by metal detectorists in the 1970s. This would explain why the depression is clearly visible on the ground but no obvious earthwork is visible on the 1940s aerial photographs . However the photographic print quality is poor and this interpretation is not conclusive.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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